Friday, January 28, 2011

Jamat-e-Islami/MMA & American Funding through USAID.

PUNJAB Governor Sardar Latif Khosa has ruled out any amendment to the blasphemy law and asserted that no such plan is under consideration by the government. Talking to the media after meeting JI Ameer Syed Munawwar Hasan at Mansoorah on Thursday, Khosa dispelled the impression that the Pakistan Peoples Party was amending the existing blasphemy law. He said the government had no such plan and asserted that the Pakistan Peoples Party would defend the Namoos-e-Risalat till the last drop of blood. He clarified that the fact-finding committee, constituted by President Asif Ali Zardari, was merely aimed at stopping the path of any bill by any member on the private memberís day in the National Assembly. The governor said he had come to meet the JI leadership in pursuance of the Pakistan Peoples Party’s policy of national reconciliation, adding that he had also invited Syed Munawwar Hasan to visit the Governorís House. To a question, Khosa said that the passage of the 18th and 19th amendments was made possible through the politics of reconciliation and it was time to make joint efforts to curb the challenges faced by the federation. Munawwar Hasan demanded the government take notice of statements by the US government and Pope Benedict XVI regarding granting pardon to Asia Bibi and the government must dispel ìmisunderstandingsî in this regard. He also demanded expulsion of representative of the Vatican City from Pakistan. Senior Minister Raja Riaz Ahmed and Pakistan Peoples Party cabinet members from Punjab including Ashraf Khan Sohna, Farooq Yusuf Ghurki and JI leader Liaquat Baloch were also present. REFERENCE: Khosa rules out change in blasphemy laws By Our Correspondent Friday, January 28, 2011

LAHORE, Jan 27: The Jamaat-i-Islami has warned the government of protest if public reservations are not taken care of on blasphemy laws. “If the government fails to remove people`s apprehensions about blasphemy laws, the situation will go beyond protest rallies,” JI chief Syed Munawwar Hasan told the media after hosting Punjab Governor Latif Khosa and a PPP delegation at the party headquarters here on Thursday. Mr Hasan argued that the people were rightly having apprehensions about and protesting the issue as the prime minister was not giving assurance in parliament on not amending the law. He demanded that the government expel Vatican`s representative and officially protest with the European parliament for their utterances against the law. He also sought official protest against the US offer of political asylum to Aasia Masih, a blasphemy convict.

Jamat-e-Islami and IJT are Foreign Agents - 1 (Dunya News 24/1/2011)

He said a lack of clear and categorical stance on blasphemy laws and ignoring demands for disbanding the (Federal Minority Affairs Minister) Shahbaz Bhatti-led committee on the issue was making the people doubtful about the government intentions. He made it clear that the Namoos-i-Risalat movement would continue until the committee for review of the laws was dissolved and the bill submitted by PPP MNA Sherry Rehman suggesting amendments to them was withdrawn. Jan 30 protest rally, scheduled to be taken out from Nasser Bagh up to the Punjab Assembly Building, on the issue would be historic, he added.

Jamat-e-Islami and IJT are Foreign Agents - 2 (Dunya News 24/1/2011)

Referring to the reconciliation policy of the PPP government, the JI leader said they welcomed it as none wished for the policy of confrontation. However, he said, fruits of the reconciliation should reach down to the public and it must not be confined to protecting interests of the ruling elite. He assured the visitors of his party support to each and every move made for the benefit of the masses. Mr Khosa said he had brought a message of reconciliation to the JI leaders from President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. He said they were carrying the message to leaders of all the political parties for making the country a cradle of peace and tranquility. He said doors of the Governor`s House were open to all people irrespective of their creed and political affiliations. Senior PPP Minister Raja Riaz, ministers Ashraf Sohna and Farooq Ghurki, and Haji Azizur Rehman Chan were accompanying the governor, while JI Secretary-General Liaquat Baloch, naib amir Aslam Saleemi and others were present. REFERENCE: Blasphemy laws: JI warns govt of protest From the Newspaper (12 hours ago) Today http://www.dawn.com/2011/01/28/blasphemy-laws-ji-warns-govt-of-protest.html

MULTAN (February 16 2005): Farooq Maudoodi son of founder of Jamaat-i-Islami, late Abul Aala Maudoodi, has said that Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) had been created by ISI and it is a part and parcel of the military government and cannot part ways with President Pervez Musharraf. Talking to a group of journalists here on Tuesday he said: "Qazi Hussain Ahmed met the then ISI chief, General Ehsan-ul-Haq, then called on General Pervez Musharraf and later met US ambassador, then flew to United States. As soon as he returned, MMA was formed like IJI (Islami jamhoori Ittehad)." He said that IJI was organised by ISI and funds were also provided by it on the assurance of Qazi Hussain Ahmed, who had also played a key role in IJI. "Now he is playing major role in MMA." Bitterly criticising the MMA, Farooq said that the role of MMA is evidence of its loyalties with military regime. It had approved the 17th constitutional amendment which is in favour of the present regime. He said: "Where has the MMA movement gone while its leadership is claiming that it would continue till the achievement of objective of 'Uniform'?" Farooq said that Benazir knew very well about MMA and she had some reservations about it. He said that ISI has complete record of MMA leaders and they cannot escape. He said that politics ended in 1958 when Ayub imposed martial law. He said that plundering of evacuee trust property (Auqaf) and politics of clerics destroyed the politics of the country. Regarding deletion of column of 'religion' from Passport, he said that it was a good step and Ulema should have welcomed it but they made it part of their agitation to hoodwink the innocent Muslims.Farooq said that some bad things were added in the constitution by Zia-ul-Haq, which must be excluded, which had bred many ills. ends

THE Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal is heading towards further break-up as internal differences among the already reduced “six-party alliance” have posed major threat to its existence.

Despite truce on NSC issue between Qazi Hussain Ahmed and Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the ideological gulf between the two is fast widening. As frequent splits have already become a serious issue due to sole decisions taken by the two mainstream parties; especially Qazi-Baloch dominated Jamaat-e-Islami, more reasons are cropping up to bring the two heads at loggerheads.

Reports suggest that Qazi Hussain Ahmed and Fazlur Rehman have entered into yet another conflict since Maulana Sherani accepted chairmanship of National Assembly’s Standing Committee.

Jamat-e-Islami and IJT are Foreign Agents - 4 (Dunya News 24/1/2011)

“Qazi has lodged a strong protest with Fazlur Rehman over Muhammad Khan Sherani’s acceptance of the office of chairman National Assembly’s Standing Committee of Ports and Shipping”.

It is said that Qazi, seeking explanation, also talked to Sherani and expressed great sense of resentment over his becoming chairman of the Standing Committee without taking him, being head of the alliance or the MMA parties, into confidence. “Sherani told Qazi that he obtained permission from Fazlur Rehman before accepting the office whereas Fazl, in his telephonic conversation, denied to have permitted him for the same.”

Qazi reminded Fazl and Sherani about the MMA and other opposition parties’ decision that they will not accept any office in the Standing Committees till the Government ensures allocation of the offices under the proportionate system. “Qazi Sahib takes the matter as a sheer violation of the party discipline.” However no disciplinary action is expected to be taken against Maulana Sherani following his position particularly in Balochistan where he is heading the MMA as well as JUI-F besides he has complete backing of Fazlur Rehman.

Maulana Sherani is the second from MMA who became chairman of a Standing Committee as JUI-S Chief Maulana Samiul Haq’s son, Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani is already holding such position. Qazi’s JI and Fazl’s JUI, the two major components of MMA, are already facing severe differences over the issue of participation of Chief Minister Akram Durrani in NSC and a final decision is still pending.

The JUI-F wants to ensure Durrani’s participation in NSC meetings whereas the JI has been left alone among the Majlis parties that are opposing such move since the council was established through an act of Parliament.

The MMA parties met on June 23 here in Islamabad to take up different issues including the NSC and maybe Sherani’s acceptance of chairmanship of the Standing Committee besides forming its general council.

Making of MMA (Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal) is really a great thing. But the initially formed six-party alliance has reduced to a two-party ‘marriage of convenience’. With the death of Allama Shah Ahmed Noorani MMA witnessed the demise of JUP’s active affiliation.

JUI-F itself has further developed differences from within. Hafiz Hussain Ahmed has ‘rebelled’ probably succumbing to JI tactics. Besides, the JUI-F in Balochistan functionally withdrew its support to JUI-F Central in joining the Qazi-led movement against President’s uniform.

Hafiz Hussain virtually ditched Maulana Fazl’s reconciliatory approach to have a peaceful political process in the country. It was the result of those splits with the MMA that the agitation, demonstrations, caravans and long marches ended in a futile exercise, as three parties JUI-S, MJAH and JUP-N were reluctant to join solo flight of JI and JUI-F.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman Curses Jang Group, GEO TV & Ansar Abbasi

The recent resignation of MMA Punjab Secretary General Syed Mahfooz Mashhadi also indicated the rifts within. Mashhadi alleged that MMA president and JI Amir Qazi Hussain Ahmed and MMA Secretary General and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman have created like-minded people in smaller parties of the alliance to easily impose their decisions.

“JI leaders hold their meetings on behalf of MMA and try to impose their decisions on the other parties. The provincial leadership of MMA was totally unaware about the decisions being taken in Central Shoora meetings of MMA” he said, adding “JI leader Hafiz Idrees who is also the provincial president of MMA did not take the provincial leadership of the alliance into confidence about the decisions of the supreme council of MMA.”

He disclosed that after two years Qazi Hussain Ahmed has now admitted that MMA’s decision about the support of 17th constitutional amendment was wrong.

Senator Maulana Samiul Haq of JUI-S parted ways with MMA due to latter’s role in helping the ruling Pakistan Muslim League in passing controversial 17th Amendment while Markazi Jamiat Ahle-Hadith chief Senator Professor Sajid Mir was also annoyed at MMA president Qazi Hussain Ahmed and Secretary General Maulana Fazlurrehman for passage of amendment.

Both the leaders have been ignoring the supreme council meetings of the MMA for a long time due to same reason. A central leader of JUP-N disclosed that small parties of religious alliance had reservation on the decision being taken by the central leadership of MMA.

However he said the central leadership was not bound to inform the provincial leadership about their decisions. According to sources Mashhadi resigned from the post of provincial secretary general due to cold attitude showed by the JI Punjab.

Hafiz Idrees Ahmed of JI was appointed as president MMA Punjab without taking into confidence other smaller parties who could not activate provincial chapter so far.

It is said that JUP-N central secretary general Gen. K M Azhar has constantly been interfering in the matters of JUP-N’s provincial chapter and creating a lobby in the party for not giving an opportunity to Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani’s son Maulana Anas Noorani to become president of the party.

Anas Noorani was reportedly not willing also because of the MMA leaders’ attitude towards his father.

Anecdote goes that in King Mamoon-ur-Rashid’s era two Hadith tellers once attended a Juma sermon at a mosque near Baghdad where the khateeb was narrating a Hadith, attributed to the Prophet [PBUH], through their source to which both the ravians strongly objected and vehemently denied having said that.

“Get off, you are not the only two with those particular names…there are a hundred Zaids and Bakrs”, was the reply. The Imam got them shunted out of the mosque.

The trend of “barha letay hein zeb-e-dastaan kay liey” goes on non-stop. The Ulema today are being wrongly dubbed as fundamentalists because in the fundamentals of al-Din there is nowhere to have the facts twisted, or utilize the opportunity to one’s own political ends. This is in sheer violation of “Why ye not do what ye do say?”

The bazaar of politics is infested with masquerading and mimicry, somersaults and gimmicks, telling lies and saving skins.

Machiavellian approach continues to prevail upon, come what may. The ulema who have thronged this bazaar are out to ‘Islamise’ the trade of politics to their self-aggrandizement and addiction of ‘leading’ the nation with the interpretations of their deeds on their own.

It is pardonable that some of them opposed the making of Pakistan, pleading that practising Islam needs no ‘independent’ State. But it is not pardonable to continue resisting the fundamental principles of Islam. Farooq Haider Maududi, Maulana Amin Ahsan Islahi, Dr Asrar Ahmed and the latest desertion in JI Naeem Siddqui speak volumes while exposing the Jamaat leadership for its somersaults.

Maulana Abul Ala’a Maududi, they say, had asked for not taking part in politics, but the vested interests allured it to low to resort to making headways in the gimmicks, no matter what the means could have been adopted.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman has gone down with the legacy. He justified the “marriages of convenience” with a number of alliances, friends and foes, even PPP.

Though cracks have split the Mufti-legacy today, the “marriage of convenience” goes on as a political norm. When they are asked they say in the religion it is forbidden but politics is something different. The contract of petroleum oil was a convenience and the alliance with the PPP was a marriage.●